The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-09-15
FOR SUNDAY READING.
PENCIL MARGIN ALA PREPARED
BY ii. r. NJ.
1t is he Opinion OF :he Editor of the
Chronicle that Marsinaiia'' is Good
for Every Day in the week.
Special Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.


Chronicle that .'Marsina,ia'' is Good
for Every Day in the week.
Special Cor. STATE CHRoNICLE.l
The superst 1tion, or at least, belief in
the supernatural. of distinguished men of
action, is a favorite topic of comment ana
illustration. All the world is familiar with
the horseshoe which Nelson kept nailed
to the flag mast of the Victory; the ship
which Caesar thought incapable of sink
ing because it bore HIM and his fortunes
Napoleon 5 star Of destiny which, though
rekindiny its beams from the fountain of
1.-The Sun of AUS eritZ was extinguished
in the midnight palt OF Waterloo. Thu
remarks of Renau OH this subject Qife of
Jesus, CO. strike me as over severe and
uncharitable. ''Ardent natures" says he,
''are never wiliiu- to see chance i'll any
thing that concerns them. For THEM all
has been ordered ~ God, and they see a
sign of the Superior will in the most in
significant circumstances" Lamartine, IN
his life OF Nelson, refers 10 this sentiment
in terms luster-it seems TO me-and Ger
talnly kindlier, as the superstition com
mon to all great men, who feel and under
stand more strongly than Others can the
vast disproportion between their actual
weakness and the great deeds they are per-
mitted by Providence to accomplish.
Writing of Lamartine. l would pause to
urge i'll the strongest terms my young
friends-or, indeed, those of any aSe un-
acquainted with his words, to read the
immortal historical aud biographical pro
ductions of this great scholar, orator, pa
triot and statesman. He would not be
French, were he l,ot tlprld and enthusias-
tic-sometimes to The verge of exaggera-
tiOn-venturing 10 say, for instance that
when Providence designs to fire the
world with great idea it Is first kindled
III frcucAin',n, >olu.' But he is REV
ERENF AID PURE. lie loves God, and MS
pages are devoid of one expression that
could color the cheek OF virgin modesty
In two instances Lamartne seems TO
have engaged in az intellectual tourney
with Thomas De Quincy, and never could
it have been more appropriately said to
our English kinsman,
Now, gallant Saxon. hold thine own,
No naidens artns are round thee thown-" p"
The TWO efforts mentioned are sketches
by each Of CICERO ard JOAN OF ARC. Not
that they wrote IN opposition to each
other, but in generous lI4teltectual emula-
tion. Ny unmportant personal opinion
is, that Lamartine 5 CICERO Is far the best,
but there COULD be no superiority as TO
two master pieces on tue maid OF Orleans,
EACH attaining 10 PERFECTION,
One of the greatest charms which find
in Irvings inimitable fun is its perfect
freedom from malice. Little splendor for
me in those shafts Of Wit stepped in the
ranking invisible venom Of personal i'll
will, or malevolence towards society at
large. Can't We manage to be amusing
-, 81
madman who casteth fire brands, arrows
and DEATH so, says Solomon, is the man
that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith,
Am not IN sPoRT:'
| cannot imag ne anything more absorb
ingly entertaining than would bt a collec-
ton of the opinions of the great intellect
ual men of the day as to the MOST complete,
striking and eloquent expression they have
ever cCne across in reading. Perhaps
many would express their inability to de
eide, but it would be extremely interesting
to know their ideas of the Nearest approx
mation to such supremacy For one.
should be glad to hear from the literary
''Thunderer' of the Wilmington Star.
OF those | have asked such question,
| quite a majority have agreed on the famil
| lar passage in Tristan Shandy, where the
messenger that flew up to Heavens chan
| Gerry bearing that famous venial oath, blush
| ed as he gave it in, and the recording an
| gel dropped tear and blotted it out for
ever For my humble part, though not
worthy to VOTE in such an assembly, | vii
venture in and inquire if anything nearer
perfection has yet been given to the world
than those wellknown, but not we'll
enough known, lines OF Campbell:..
''But hark! through the fast flashing lightn
What steed to the desert flies frantic and far
| 'Tis thine. oh Glenullin! WHOSE BRIDE SHALL
| AWAIT,
LIKE A LOVE LIGHTED wATcI-FIRE, ALI
NIGHT AT THE GATE"
| | hope subscribers to the CHRONICLE wht
honor me by reading these lines may GIVE
us their views through its columns
Speaking above of Sternes great worl
reminds me of what has been so felici
| tously said OF him by twin brother ge
| MUS. Says HEINE, Lawrence Sterne, lik'
Shakespeare, was fostered by the Muses. il
| Parnassus. After the manner OF women
they easily spoiled him with their oaresses
He was the especial pet of the pale GOODIES
of tragedy. Once, in a paroxysm of fierce
tenderness, she kissed him so passionately
with such fervoI, with so ardent press
ure of her lips, that his young heart begal
to bleed and at once understood all earthl
sorrows and was filled with /, boundles
compassion. Poor young poet heart! Blu
the younger sister, the rosy goddess o
mirth, sprang quickly to his side, took tn
suffering lad into her arms, and sought t
cheer him with song and merr,ment. Sh
gave him as play-thlngs the mask of com
edy and the jinging bells, and pressed
soothing kiss upon his lips; and with tha
kiss she imbued him with all her levity
all her frolicsome mirth, all her sporty
wit. And since then Sterne's heart an
Sterne's lips have drifted into a strang
contradiction. Sometimes, when his sou
is most deeply agitated with tragic emo
ton, and he seeks to give utterance to th
profound sorrows of his bleeding heart
then, to his own astOnishment, the merri
est, most mirth provoking words will flu
ter from his lips"
A newspaper contemporary of recer
date contains an anecdote of Judge Pea
son, bearing more than ordinary intrins
evidence of authenticity. The Judge, IL
significant in appearance, and describe
, as shabbily clad is represented as suddenl
appearing in Edenton at the tavern {
Boniface Gorham, (WhO was hourly e.
peciing, from Gates county, dirfereI
specimen of the GENUS JUDEx), presentin
himself at once at the bar, and calling f
a glass of whiskey. The host ventures
inquire of his unpretentious guest if /
wishes THE sEsf and being affirmative